Nathan Roger Zwetzig

Nathan Roger Zwetzig, a devoted husband, father, son, brother, and highly accomplished Industrial Designer died unexpectedly on December 29, 2024, in Broomfield, CO. He was 43. His soul will live forever, and his spirit surrounds his family. 

He was a graduate of Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins, CO and the Colorado Institute of Art, Denver, CO. He and his family resided in Westminster, CO for the past 14 years. He is survived by his mother, Barbara Bartow (Chris), father, Randolph, stepmother, Kathryn, Rebecca Zwetzig (Dennis), his wife and love of his life for 14 years; the couple’s amazing 8-year-old daughter, Alexis Raye Zwetzig; siblings Matthew Zwetzig, Claire Moorman (Stephen), Abigail Nichols (Trey), Lauren Zwetzig; nephew Oliver Moorman and newly born niece Grace Moorman.  

Nate was born on December 5,1981 in Tucson, AZ to Randolph and Barbara Zwetzig. He was named Nathan, a Hebrew name for “Gift of God” and “He Gave.” He was truly a gift and he gave so much in his abbreviated life.  

He was bestowed the tremendous gift of drawing and 3D perception; both of which became evident at around four years of age. At that time, he stunned his parents by nearly duplicating a dinosaur drawing in an encyclopedia. At around 9 years of age, during the first Gulf War in 1990, his first cartoon strip was published in the Colorado State University newspaper, titled “Sadam Insane”.  

His artistic talent was further developed at Rocky Mountain High School under the tutelage of Missy Wolf for which the family is eternally grateful. 

He attended the Colorado Institute of Art where industry-leading professionals further honed his skills. He received his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design in 1984. He loved Industrial Design. He began his career at Samson Design and later joined Case Logic which became Thule. While at Thule, Nate received highly coveted Industrial Design Awards such as the iF Red Dot Design Awards for his camera bag and backpack designs. His designs would be featured in various magazines, and we believe some of his luggage was featured on the “Price is Right” show. 

Today, his designs and product developments are used by over 350,000 airplane pilots, commercial, private and military, around the world. The product family, known as PIVOT and produced by FlyBoys, securely mounts portable electronic equipment in airplanes that transport millions of passengers and millions of packages every day. If you have flown recently, more than likely, your pilot was happier, and your trip was made safer by one of Nathan’s designs. Check with the pilots on your next trip; they love PIVOT. 

In September 2010, on one of his numerous business trips to Hong Kong Nate met the beautiful and intelligent girl of his dreams, Rebecca Dennis. She was in Hong Kong as part of her MBA program. Their meeting at a hotel gym was purely by fate; It was meant to be. The story of their courtship is amazing. Nate showered Rebecca with his artwork as testaments to his love for her. To this day, Rebecca has maintained the collection of hand drawn love notes and cards. Nate and Rebecca were married on September 28, 2012, and lived in a townhouse in Westminster, CO. On July 17,2016 they were blessed with a beautiful daughter, Alexis Raye Zwetzig. At age eight, she is a bundle of joy, an excellent student, a green belt at Soo Bahk Do martial arts, and warms everybody with her whole-body laugh. 

Nate was devoted to his wife and daughter; to the point of making sure nearly everything they ate was pure and wholesome. He and Alexis rode bikes to school and the family loved the outdoors. His passions were drawing, industrial design, and playing “Star Citizen” with his on-line gaming buddies. He was accomplished in martial arts and participated in Soo Bahk Do with his daughter Alexis. Both were Gold Medalists in a recent regional competition. He loved text-bantering with his father, brother and long-time best friend, Chris Montigne. The family would laugh in tears at his great stories, and he loved a good prank. His best prank was placing stickers of Chris’s face in urinals all around Denver. He was loving, kind and giving. He gave a lot to all of us and will be sorely missed but NEVER forgotten. 

A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held on Sunday, February 9 at 10:30am at “Horan and McConaty Funeral Services” located at 9998 Grant Street in Thornton, CO.  

The family requests that in lieu of flowers or other items that contributions be made to the education fund for Nate’s daughter, Alexis Raye Zwetzig, at Fundraiser for Rebecca Zwetzig by Abby Zwetzig : Support Alexis' Future in Memory of her Father, Nate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-alexis-future-in-memory-of-her-father-nate